Dixon stays top in rain-interrupted FP2

Jake Dixon has retained his top spot after Friday practice at Oulton Park at the start of the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Showdown despite FP2 being red-flagged due to heavy rain.

Moto Rapido Ducati’s Tommy Bridewell led the early stages in the afternoon in wet conditions before the rain intensified at the Cheshire circuit which forced two red flag stoppages due to unsafe track conditions with standing water.

After a 20-minute pause the rain eased off to allow a final 15 minutes of practice and as the track conditions improved the lap times duly tumbled heading towards the chequered flag.

Dixon’s 1m 48.099s saw the RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki rider blast clear of his rivals by over a second to lead both practice sessions on Friday to set-up an encouraging start to his Showdown charge as he aims to cut into leader Haslam's 45-point advantage.

Honda’s Jason O’Halloran grabbed second place behind Dixon late on ahead of Buildbase Suzuki’s Richard Cooper and Anvil Hire Yamaha’s James Ellison – with all three acting as potential Showdown spoilers.

Sole Tyco BMW rider Michael Laverty, riding without team-mate Christian Iddon who is missing with a broken collarbone, also joined the fight at the front to take fifth place ahead of Bridewell which saw Dixon’s nearest Showdown challenger Josh Brookes down in seventh place for McAMS Yamaha.

BSB championship leader Haslam had to settle for eighth place on the JG Speedfit Kawasaki having opted not to take too much risk in the wet conditions, with Be Wiser Ducati’s Andrew Irwin and Haslam’s team-mate Luke Mossey rounding out the top ten.

That saw Bradley Ray narrowly miss out for Buildbase Suzuki in 11th place, ahead of his maiden Showdown campaign, with the final two title contenders further down the order as Peter Hickman ended FP2 in 16th place for Smiths Racing BMW and Glenn Irwin in 17th place for Be Wiser Ducati.